A simple blood test could provide a more effective way to test for early signs of breast cancer than using an X-ray to spot a lump, researchers have said.

Scientists hope the blood test will be
more accurate than mammograms, and will also be able to detect whether breast
cancer patients are likely to relapse and what drugs their particular type of
tumour will respond to.

A new clinical study is about to begin in
the UK's largest breast screening clinic at Charing Cross Hospital, west
London.

If the trial is successful, women could
have a simple blood test every year rather than breast screening.

Researchers will compare the DNA markers
in the blood of women with and without breast cancer.

Professor Charles Coombes, co-investigator
and Cancer Research UK's breast cancer expert from Imperial College London,
said: "When a woman has breast cancer we can tell by the DNA in their
blood. But what we're trying to find out in our study is how early the signs of
breast cancer show up in a blood test. So by looking at blood samples of women
who have breast cancer diagnosed through screening we can see if the cancer is
already showing in their blood.

"Our research team is only looking at
breast cancer, but there are a number of other projects that are looking at
using a blood test to detect other cancers such as bowel and lung."

Dr Jacqui Shaw, principal investigator
from the University of Leicester, said: "This exciting research means we
could one day have a blood test that detects the very early signs of cancer,
meaning women could have an annual blood test rather than breast screening.

"This would remove any worry and
anxiety for women who are called for further investigations after a mammogram
only to find they don't have cancer.

"As things stand we aren't able to
monitor breast cancer patients after they've had surgery and treatment - which
is like treating diabetes but not measuring blood sugar levels. This new blood
test could change that."

Kate Law, director of clinical research at
Cancer Research UK, said she hoped the blood test could become "standard
practise on the NHS" in "the not too distant future".

Dr Rachel Greig, senior policy officer at
Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "We welcome new tests that could be used
to detect initial changes associated with the development of breast cancer as
we know early diagnosis saves lives.

"However, this study has only just
begun so more work is needed before we'll know if a routine blood test like
this can become a reality for patients."

:: The study is funded by Cancer Research
UK in collaboration with the University of Leicester and Imperial College
London.